Push-button switch



Dec. 4 1923.

- G. T. GRIFFIN PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Nov. 12, 1919 ZWGIZEIW ayf rrffiiu Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UETED STATES I 1,476,566 PATENT. OFFICE.

GUY T. GRIFFIN, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CONSOLIIIATED CAR-HEATING COMPANY, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

PUSH-BUTTON swrron.

Application filed. November 12, I919. Serial No. 337,504.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it l-znown that I, GUY T. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in "the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Push- Button Switches, the following being a full, clear, and exact disclosure of the one form of my invention which I at present deem preferable.

For a detailed description of the present form of my invention reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a cross section of my device on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the ends of the contact posts and Fig. 4 shows the contact disc.

My invention relates to push-button switches and consists of an improvement on that type wherein the foundation or body of the device is a block of insulation hollowed out at its front end to form a contact chamber, with a pair of contact posts passing into said chamber from its rear end where the posts are provided respectively with binding screws on opposite sides of a barrier that projects from the said block. In such a switch the contact chamber contains a coiled spring surrounding the ends of the posts aforesaid and on this spring is seated a self 6 adjusting disc against which bears the rounded rear end of the push-button. When pressure is applied to the button such pressure is transmitted to the disc and from the disc to the spring and the yielding of the 4 spring allows the disc to come intocontact with the ends of the posts and thereby close the circuit.

My improvement relates to the form of the disc and the ends of the posts engaged thereby, the result being a material gain in the self adjusting capacity of the contacts, which gives a better connection with more certainty and delicacy of operation and a larger life to the contacts.

Referring to the drawing, C is the base or foundation body consisting of a moulded block of insulating material having a. cupshaped formation at its upper end which provides a contact chamber G with side walls of insulation. P P are normally immovable contact posts passing through the block from its rear or bottom end into thechamher where they terminate in rounded tips as shown in Fig. 3. The rear ends of the posts lie on opposite sides of a projecting barrier '6 Q and are turned over flat against the block and provided with holes for the contact screws. The rear end-of the block is formed with recesses in which the ends of the screws are received. Within chamber G is a coiled spring 0 seated against the floor of the chamber and surrounding the tips of the posts. On spring 0 rests an annular flange of the contact disc K which I form with an annular depression stamped in its central portion, as clearly appears in Fig. 4 leaving an upstanding lugK at the center of the disc. The depressed part falls within the open center .of coiled spring O which bears against the fiat annularma'rgin of the disc. H is the push button which passes somewhat loosely through a hole in the metal shell E carried by block G, and on its inner or under side has a rounded or dome-shaped surface which bears centrally on the central lug K of the disc K. The button has an extended flange which bears against the inside surface of shell E under the reacting pressure of spring 0. By my arrangement the disc has an increased capacity for self adjustment with respect to the button, there being merely a point of contact between it and the button so that it may tilt thereon in any direction, while, in addition I give it a self adjusting capacity with respect to the contact posts P P That is produced by the annular depression in the disc which bears against the rounded tips of the posts when the button is pressed and the disc is thereby forced against the posts. 95 The disc has a rolling and rubbing action on the posts as well as an equalized contact pressure thereon. Naturally an operating push on the button is seldom exactly square and central along direct axial line, but is usually or often at one side of the center, giving it a tilting position with respect to the disc and to compel the button to move eX- actly in an'aXial direction would require a long bearing and close fit which are objec- 1 tionable and expensive. By means of the point bearing between disc and button I allow a complete freedom 'of play between them and I furthermore provide a similar point contact between the disc and both con- 110 tact posts which ensuresv a self adjusted andequalized contact and by reason of the incidental side thrusts of the tilting button on the free playing disc, the points of contact with the posts are rolled and pushed about to such a degree that both contacting surfaces are kept clean and polished over a considerable area.

The insulating body C has projecting flanges D by which it is seated against the mounting plate A with intervening packing F.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent is:

LA push-button switch comprising a body of insulating material provided with stationary contacts, an operating button, and a spring pressed contact disk having one face provided with an upstanding lug bearing against thebutton, the other face of said disk having a convexed surface positioned to engage said contacts, whereby the disc will have a rolling and rubbing action on the ends of said statitonary contacts as well as an equalized contact pressure thereon.

2. A push-button switch comprising a body of insulating material provided with stationary contacts, an operating button, and a'spring pressed contact disk having an annular depression positioned to engage said contacts and having a central raised lug bearing against said button.

3. A push-button switch comprising a body of insulating material provided with stationary contacts, an operating button, a helical spring, a contact disk havingan annular flange resting upon said spring, and a depressed portion extending into said spring and positioned to engage saidcontacts, said disk also having an upstanding lug bearing against the button.

t. A push-button switch comprising a body of insulating material, normally immovable contact posts carried by said body and having rounded contact ends, an operating button, a helical spring, and a contact disk having a flange bearing upon. one end of saidispring, said disk having one face provided with rounded portions projecting into; the spring and positioned to engage said rounded contact ends, the other face of said disk having an upstanding lug bearing against the button.

5. A push-button switch comprising a body of insulating material, immovable contact posts carried by said body and provided ber, 1919,

GUY T. GRIFFIN. 

